Thai Girlfriend Tourist Visa To Switzerland, Schengen Possible?

[Sam Drucker]

I am a citizen and resident of USA, and have a rare "window of opportunity" coming together. I'd like to take my Thai girlfriend with me to Switzerland for a week or so this summer, and (if possible) also take a train over to Paris and perhaps up to Brussels and Amsterdam.

My girlfriend is 35 and from Isaan, and doesn't have any money or land to her name; just her family and two kids. I've wanted to invite her to USA for a visit, but know that is next to impossible for someone in her circumstance.

My parents are up in years, with my dad in his mid 80s. They would not consider traveling to Thailand. They are mostly homebound, particularly my father. In the past, they have traveled to a small city in Switzerland at the home off some friends. We thought they had given up traveling due to advancing age, but I was surprised to hear my dad say they were planning to go again this summer.

I also will have some extra time on my hands as the company is downsizing and I am taking "the package". So the thought occurred to me that I could go to Thailand in July for a few days, then fly to Switzerland with my girlfriend and see my parents there for a week or so. I would then either send her back to Bangkok while I went back to USA, or we would continue on to Paris, Brussels, and Amsterdam possibly if we got her a schengen visa. Anybody have any ideas on if obtaining the visas for her is possible, and likely?

I reviewed the Swiss website, but their visa rules are a little confusing, and seem to speak in terms of a Swiss person having a Thai girl visit him, rather than just coming to Thailand strictly as a tourist.

As far as timing, I plan to be back in Thailand in late April, and could start making consulate visits then. Hopefully, 3 months from departure should be long enough lead time.

Any comments and suggestions on this situation are welcome.

Sam

[Axel]

A Schengen multiple visa will do the trick.

7) NATIONAL & OFFICIAL PASSPORT WITH SCHENGEN VISA

Nationals of the following countries do NOT require a visa to travel to Switzerland if they hold a passport valid for three months after leaving Switzerland, endorsed with a multi-entry Schengen visa, valid for all Schengen states:

Bahrain, Kuwait, Oman, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, Taiwan (Republic of China, ordinary passports only), Thailand, United Arab Emirates

Have a look here:

http://www.eda.admin.ch/london_emb/e/home/...es/tranvis.html

[Sam Drucker]

A Schengen multiple visa will do the trick.

7) NATIONAL & OFFICIAL PASSPORT WITH SCHENGEN VISA

Nationals of the following countries do NOT require a visa to travel to Switzerland if they hold a passport valid for three months after leaving Switzerland, endorsed with a multi-entry Schengen visa, valid for all Schengen states:

Bahrain, Kuwait, Oman, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, Taiwan (Republic of China, ordinary passports only), Thailand, United Arab Emirates

Have a look here:

http://www.eda.admin.ch/london_emb/e/home/...es/tranvis.html

Thanks Axel . . . That's a great help. I remember reading about getting a schengen visa earlier. I'll have to recheck that thread.

P.S. I was re-reading my original post, and saw a few edits/corrections that could be made. Is there a way for the original poster to make edits on this board?

[LaoPo]

A Schengen multiple visa will do the trick.

7) NATIONAL & OFFICIAL PASSPORT WITH SCHENGEN VISA

Nationals of the following countries do NOT require a visa to travel to Switzerland if they hold a passport valid for three months after leaving Switzerland, endorsed with a multi-entry Schengen visa, valid for all Schengen states:Bahrain, Kuwait, Oman, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, Taiwan (Republic of China, ordinary passports only), Thailand, United Arab Emirates

Have a look here:

http://www.eda.admin.ch/london_emb/e/home/...es/tranvis.html

see bold above.

That's exactly where the 'trick' lies...because which European country would endorse the 'Schengen-visa'....?

see this also; might be of help:

Maybe this link can be of any help to you:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Schengen_treaty

LaoPo

Edited March 12, 2006 by LaoPo

[Sam Drucker]

Have a look here:

http://www.eda.admin.ch/london_emb/e/home/...es/tranvis.html

see bold above.

That's exactly where the 'trick' lies...because which European country would endorse the 'Schengen-visa'....?

see this also; might be of help:

Maybe this link can be of any help to you:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Schengen_treaty

LaoPo

Thanks LaoPo, I looked at the link and it was quite informative. The problem with this type of situation is that the requirements often force you to alter the original plans. At some point, the plans get compromised and inefficient for the sake of regulations, and the tail starts wagging the dog.

Switzerland will become a Schengen country, but not before 10/2007 at the earliest.

Regarding which country would endorse the schengen visa, my desired itinerary (without visa considerations) would be Switzerland first, then Paris, and finally Amsterdam, with an equal time spent in Paris and Amsterdam. Since Paris would be the first point of entry into a Schengen country, it looks like that would be the place to apply for the visa. But, I don't know that they would go along with an itinerary that showed Switzerland first, or for a longer time. So, I might need to go

to Paris first, then backtrack to Switzerland.

I haven't looked at insurance for her yet during the trip. Any idea who is good (and how much) to cover a vacation trip for a few weeks?

Thanks for your help!

[LaoPo]

Have a look here:

http://www.eda.admin.ch/london_emb/e/home/...es/tranvis.html

see bold above.

That's exactly where the 'trick' lies...because which European country would endorse the 'Schengen-visa'....?

see this also; might be of help:

Maybe this link can be of any help to you:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Schengen_treaty

LaoPo

Thanks LaoPo, I looked at the link and it was quite informative. The problem with this type of situation is that the requirements often force you to alter the original plans. At some point, the plans get compromised and inefficient for the sake of regulations, and the tail starts wagging the dog.

Switzerland will become a Schengen country, but not before 10/2007 at the earliest.

Regarding which country would endorse the schengen visa, my desired itinerary (without visa considerations) would be Switzerland first, then Paris, and finally Amsterdam, with an equal time spent in Paris and Amsterdam. Since Paris would be the first point of entry into a Schengen country, it looks like that would be the place to apply for the visa. But, I don't know that they would go along with an itinerary that showed Switzerland first, or for a longer time. So, I might need to go

to Paris first, then backtrack to Switzerland.

I haven't looked at insurance for her yet during the trip. Any idea who is good (and how much) to cover a vacation trip for a few weeks?

Thanks for your help!

You have, unfortunately, a few problems.

1. you are a USA citizen and resident and (see above) it is indeed very difficult to plan a trip just because of the regulations and long time it takes to apply-and-get a visa (if you will get it)

2. I think it would be very difficult for you to invite her as such (US citizen/resident) and get an 'easy' Visa for Switzerland or 1 of the now-Schengen countries....on which and what basis?

Maybe there is a way that your gf 'joins' a group-tour from Thailand to Europe, but I'm not sure what the regulations are; you can find out via a travel-agency in LOS.

3. It is extremely difficult nowadays to get a visa for Thai (and from other so-called non-Western countries) citizens in general, even for citizens of the European countries who want to invite their beloved ones.

The Schengen countries are very very tough with their immigration-laws; well, isn't that the same in the US?

Insurance? Well, that's a problem for later I would say.

Good luck.

LaoPo